KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Rawlings Sporting Goods Inc. today announced the finalists for the 2026 Gold Glove Awards. The American League finalists include four Kansas City Royals: first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, second baseman Michael Massey, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and third baseman Nick Loftin.
This is Witt Jr.’s third time being a finalist, after winning the award in 2024 and 2025, as well as the Rawlings Platinum Glove last season, which is given to the top defender in the league. Pasquantino, Massey and Loftin are finalists for the first time in their careers.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Awards honor the best individual fielding performances at each position in the American League and National League. Winners are chosen by a combination of votes from Major League managers and coaches, and the SABR Defensive Index. The winners will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 1 during an ESPN broadcast beginning at 8:00 p.m. CT.
Pasquantino, 29, made just 108 starts at first base due to two stints on the Injured List, but his .994 fielding percentage ranked tied for 8th among American League first basemen (min. 750.0 innings).He was charged with only 5 errors in 883 chances, which were tied for the 5th fewest among all AL first basemen with at least 800 chances.
Pasquantino helped turn 93 double plays in 2026, which were the 5th most by any AL first baseman, trailing leader Spencer Torkelson (115) of the Tigers.
He’s attempting to become the Royals second first baseman to win the award, joining Eric Hosmer, who won a Gold Glove in three straight years from 2013-15, as well as 2017.
Massey, 28, made a career-high 114 starts at second base in 2026, posting a .990 fielding percentage at the position. He helped turn 69 double plays, which ranked 2nd among American League second basemen, behind only Seattle’s Cole Young (79).
Among all AL second basemen, Massey ranked 2nd with 11 Outs Above Average to New York’s Jazz Chisholm Jr. (15), according to Baseball Savant. His 8 runs prevented also finished 2nd in the AL, behind Chisholm Jr.’s 11.
Massey is attempting to become the Royals third second basemen to win a Gold Glove Award, and would join Frank White (1977-82, 1986-87) and Mark Grudzielanek (2006).
Witt Jr., 26, made 140 starts at shortstop this season, which were the 4th most in the American League. He ranked 3rd among AL shortstops with 326 assists and was tied for 7th with a .981 fielding percentage. Among AL shortstops with at least 750.0 innings at the position, his 10 errors were the 4th fewest.
Witt Jr. led all American League players—regardless of position—with 24 Outs Above Average, ahead of the next-closest Andrés Giménez (19), according to Baseball Savant. His 18 runs prevented also led the AL, ahead of Boston’s center fielder, Ceddanne Rafaela (15). Baseball Savant’s Fielding Run Value ranked Witt Jr. tied for 3rd among all defenders (17) and tied for 1st among shortstops.
Should he win the award, Witt Jr. would be the first three-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner at shortstop in Royals history, and he would be the first American League shortstop to win the award in three consecutive seasons since J.J. Hardy with the Orioles from 2012-14.
Loftin, 28, appeared at six different positions in 2026, but spent most of his time at third base, where he made 64 starts. Despite this, his 6 Outs Above Average and 5 Runs Prevented matched Boston’s Caleb Durbin and Minnesota’s Brooks Lee for the most among all American League third basemen, per Baseball Savant.
Among AL players with at least 500.0 innings at third base, Loftin’s .973 fielding percentage ranked 2nd to only Josh Jung (.977) of the Rangers.